Gate assembly for a coin selecting and separating device

Abstract

A gate assembly for a coin selecting and separating device in which a first gate has a pin inserted into a first hinge socket on a main plate and another pin aligned with but operatively disconnected from the first hinge socket in an open position of the gate relative to the main plate. A key on the first gate precludes angular movement of the first gate from the open position. A second gate includes a pin disposed in a second hinge socket on the first gate. The first and second gates are shiftable as a unit to operatively disengage the key and to insert the aligned pin of the first gate into the first hinge socket for hingedly connecting the first gate for angular movement of the gates to a closed position relative to the main plate. A stop member on the second gate precludes angular movement of the second gate from an open position relative to the main plate until the first gate is hingedly connected. An abutment is provided on the main plate that engages the second gate to preclude removal of the second gate pin from its associated second hinge socket when the first gate is hingedly connected. The stop member of the second gate engages the main plate when the second gate is moved from its open position to preclude shifting of the first and second gates as a unit to disconnect the first gate hingedly from the first hinge socket.

I claim as my invention: 
     
       1. A gate assembly for a coin selecting and separating device, comprising: (a) a mainplate means,   (b) a first hinge socket means on the mainplate means,   (c) a first gate including: (1) a first pin inserted into the first hinge socket means,   (2) a second pin aligned but operatively disconnected from the first hinge socket means in an open position of the gate relative to the mainplate means, and   (3) key means for precluding angular movement of the first gate from the open position,     (d) a second hinge socket means on the first gate,   (e) a second gate including pin means disposed in the second hinge socket means, and   (f) the first and second gates being shiftable as a unit in the open position to operatively disengage the key means and to insert the second pin of the first gate into the first hinge socket means for hingedly connecting the first gate for angular movement of the gates to a closed position relative to the mainplate means.   
     
     
       2. A gate assembly for a coin selecting and separating device as defined in claim 1, in which: (g) the second gate includes stop means precluding angular movement of the second gate from an open position relative to the mainplate means when the second pin of the first gate is operatively disconnected from the first hinge socket means, and permitting angular movement of the second gate to a closed position relative to the mainplate means when said second pin is inserted into the first hinge socket means for hingedly connecting the first gate.   
     
     
       3. A gate assembly for a coin selecting and separating device as defined in claim 1, in which: (g) the key means is inserted into and engages the first hinge socket means to preclude angular movement of the first gate from the open position, and is withdrawn and disengaged from the first hinge socket means when the first and second gates are shifted as a unit in the open position to insert the second pin of the first gate into the first hinge socket means for hingedly connecting the first gate.   
     
     
       4. A gate assembly for a coin selecting and separating device as defined in claim 1, in which: (g) abutment means on the mainplate means engages the second gate to preclude removal of the pin means of the second gate from its associated second hinge socket means when the first gate is hingedly connected.   
     
     
       5. A gate assembly for a coin selecting and separating device as defined in claim 2, in which: (h) the stop means of the second gate engages the mainplate means when the second gate is moved from its open position to preclude shifting of the first and second gates to disconnect the first gate hingedly from the first hinge socket means.   
     
     
       6. A gate assembly for a coin selecting and separating device as defined in claim 2, in which: (h) the key means is inserted into and engages the first hinge socket means to preclude angular movement of the first gate from the open position, and is withdrawn and disengaged from the first hinge socket means when the first and second gates are shifted as a unit in the open position to insert the second pin of the first gate into the first hinge socket means for hingedly connecting the first gate, and   (i) abutment means on the mainplate means engages the second plate to preclude removal of the pin means of the second gate from its associated second hinge socket means when the first gate is hingedly connected.   
     
     
       7. A gate assembly for a coin selecting and separating device as defined in claim 1, in which: (g) the first hinge socket means includes opposed and spaced shoulders, each shoulder being provided with a hinge socket,   (h) the first gate includes a hinge portion disposed between the shoulders, the first and second pins and the key means being provided on the hinge portion, the said first pin and key means being inserted into one hinge socket and the second pin being aligned with the other hinge socket in the open position of the first gate, and   (i) the key means engages its associated shoulder to preclude angular movement of the first gate from the open position, and is operatively disengaged from its associated hinge socket and associated shoulder upon shifting the first and second gates as a unit in the open position incident to inserting the second pin of the first gate into said other hinge socket for hingedly connecting the first gate.   
     
     
       8. A gate assembly for a coin selecting and separating device as defined in claim 7, in which: (j) the hinge portion of the first gate is provided with hinge sockets receiving the pin means of the second gate.   
     
     
       9. A gate assembly for a coin selecting and separating device as defined in claim 8, in which: (k) bearing means on the mainplate means rotatively seats the pin means of the second gate, the bearing means including an abutment engaging the pin means to preclude removal of the pin means from its associated hinge sockets when the first gate is hingedly connected.   
     
     
       10. A gate assembly for a coin selecting and separating device, comprising: (a) a mainplate means,   (b) a first hinge socket means on the mainplate means including opposed and spaced shoulders, each shoulder being provided with a hinge socket,   (c) a first gate including a hinge portion disposed between the socket shoulders, the hinge portion having a first pin and a key means inserted into one hinge socket and a second pin aligned with the other hinge socket in the open position of the first gate, the key means engaging its associated shoulder to preclude angular movement of the first gate from the open position,   (d) a second hinge socket means on the hinge portion of the first gate,   (e) a second gate including a hinge portion having pin means disposed in the second hinge socket means,   (f) stop means precluding angular movement of the second gate from an open position relative to the mainplate means when the said first pin and key means of the first gate is inserted into its associated hinge socket and the second pin of the first gate is aligned with but operatively disconnected from its associated hinge socket,   (g) the first and second gates being shiftable as a unit in the open position to operatively disengage the key means from its associated shoulder and to insert the second pin of the first gate into its associated hinge socket for hingedly connecting the first gate for angular movement of the first gate to a closed position relative to the mainplate means, the stop means of the second gate then permitting angular movement of the second gate to a closed position relative to the mainplate means,   (h) the stop means of the second gate engaging the mainplate means when the second gate is moved from its open position to preclude shifting of the first and second gates as a unit to disconnect hingedly the first gate from the first hinge socket means, and   (i) bearing means on the mainplate means rotatively seating the pin means of the second gate, the bearing means including an abutment engaging the pin means to preclude removal of the pin means from its associated hinge sockets when the first gate is hingedly connected.